Motion and direction signal for automobiles



G. B. SCHWIEGER MOTION AND DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb.4. 1924 corye B? zfczwegef NE I VA/AIE Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

GEORGE BEN scnwmona, or rnonnix, ARIZONA.

MOTION AND DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE- BEN Sonwra GER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Phoenix,-in the county of Maricopa and State ofArizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion andDirection Signals for Automobiles, of Which the following is aspecification, reference be ing had therein to the accompanyingdrawcoming in the opposite direction, to pedestrians, and to traflicoflicers.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will-be set forth in thedetailed description which follows.

'In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a. front elevation of a signaling device constructed inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View through one of the corner lights;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line H of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of a slightlymodified form of the invention;

a Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the lamp casings hereinafterdescribed.

' Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figuresofthe drawing.

The device of the present invention comprises an elongated, rectangularframe 5, a horizontal brace 6 and diagonal braces 7, 8, 9 and 10. Thebraces 6 to 10 are preferably of tubular formation to provide conduitsfor electric wires 11, through which current is supplied to a pluralityof incandescent lights, such as are indicated at 12,-and which lightsare arranged in one horizontal row and two diagonal rows as hereinafterdescribed- There are many ways in which the lamps 12 Application filedFebruary 4, 1924. Serial No. 690,486.

may be mounted upon the frame and it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to any specific method of mounting said lamps.However, as one Way of mounting the lamps I have indicated ring-likeelements 13 with which the tubular braces are connected. Bushings 14 fitwithin these ringlike elements and nuts 15 are adapted to be threadedupon these bushings and to bind lenses 16 in place, these lensesconstituting between them a lamp casing or chamber in which the lamps 12are located.

In the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4' the framework is an openframework, while in Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated plates 17 toconstitute a closed frame. These plates may be of glass so that thedriver will not have his vision obstructed by the presence of thesignaling frame or they may be of metal, if desired.

The frame 5 is provided along its inner edge with ears 18 and theseears, in turn, are

connected by friction bolts 19 with corresponding ears "20 of clamps 21,said clamps being, in the present instance, attached to the side of thewindshield frame; though it is apparent that in the case of closed cars,

said clamps may be attached to the body of' the car. It is'intended thatthe bolts 19 shall exert such frictional binding upon the parts as willhold theframe in the position to which it may be adjusted. Thus when notin use the frame may be swung inside of the car.

One of the housings, viz, that indicated at a is adapted to receive twolights 12, 12', one being a redlight and the other being a' green light.It is immaterial as to the particular colors employed but it ispreferred to use red and green lights since these are respectively wellrecognized as danger and caution signals. The upper diagonal row oflights are green. This may be effected b making the bulbs themselvesgreen or two upper lights of green glass or celluloid. With respect tothe lamp a the glass 16 will be clear so that this may show either redor green as the circumstances demand. This is necessEry because thislight constitutes a part sometimes of a red row and sometimes of greenrow. The two outer' y making the lenses 16, of the the casing a and thetwo upper green lights w in the upper diagonal row lighted, a row ofthree green lights will appear across the upper portion of the frame.Vith the green light in casing a and the two outer green lights in thehorizontal row lighted, a row of green lights will appear horizontallyacross the frame, while with the red light in casing 'a lighted and thetwo lower red lights lighted, a row of red lights will appear diagonallyacross the lower portion of the frame. The upper diagonal row of greenlights will indicate that the driver is about to make a right-hand turn.the horizontal row of green lights will indicate that the driver isabout to make a left-hand turn and the lower row of red lights willindicate that the driver is about to slow up or stop. It is manifestthat since the lights are visible in both directions these signals willserve to warn persons ahead as well as those in the rear and that thisresult is accomplished without the provision of moving arms or otherdevices likely to get out of order.

It is quite-common in the art of automobile signaling to mount thecontrol buttons upon the steering column and it is my intention tofollow this practice, well known to the art, and to mount upon thesteering column the necessary buttons to control the circuits throughthe several rows of lights, so that the" driver may, while maintainingfull control over the steering of the vehicle, signal his proposedcourse to those both in front and in the areal. In addition to being awarning to pedestrians and the drivers of other vehicles, such a deviceas this is of great aid to traflic oflicers, since such officers areapprised well in advance of the intention of the driver to turn.

The recognized and standard signal as approved by the AmericanAutomobile Association and recommended to motorists throughout thecountry is for the driver who is about to make a right-hand turn toextend the upper arm out horizontally with the forearm raised'to aposition almost at right angle. hand one, the arm is extendedhorizontally. Thus it will be seen that the arrangement of the signalsin the present invention closely conforms to the standard and recognizedmethod of signaling. The exhibition If the turn is to be a left-,

- sign ature.

of a red light is, of course, a well recognized signal of warning tostop, or slow up.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction set forth but that it includes within its purview Whateverchanges fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of theappended claims;

Having described my invention what- I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a substantiallyrectangular frame posed in two diagonal rows and one horizontal row anda sheet of transparent material spannlng said frame and secured thereinto adapt it to constitute a wind break. I

2. A device of the character described 7 comprising a frame consistingof a substantially rectangular member and tubular braces, constitutingan electrical conduit, one of said tubular braces lying substantiallyhorizontal and centrally of the rectangular element and others of saidbraces being disposed in cross formation above and below said horizontalbrace, lamp casings. at the juncture of said rectangular member andbraces and at the juncture of said braces and an additional lam casingcarried by the horizontal brace, sald casings being disposed to form, ahorizontal row along the horizontal brace and two diagonal rows, one

above and the other below said horizontal row.

3. device of the character described comprislng a substantiallyrectangular frame and tubular braces constitutin an electrical conduit,lamp casings at the' unc ture of said frame and braces with which saidconduits communicate each 'of said lamp casings comprising lenses facingboth front and rear, said casings bein disposed in two diagonal rows andone i row and i a sheet of transparent material spanning said frame andsecured theretov to adapt it to constitute a wind break.

In testimony whereof I-hereunto aflix my Gnome BEN SCHWIEGER.

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